Gyökeres Returns to Arsenal After Record-Breaking Sweden Goal Run
Viktor Gyökeres sealed Sweden’s 1-0 Nations League win over Romania in Bucharest on Monday night, taking his tally to four goals in four matches and setting a new competition record with goals in seven consecutive appearances.
The 28-year-old striker returns to Arsenal with his confidence high after Sweden’s unbeaten international run, while Kai Havertz’s hamstring problem could open the door for Gyökeres to start against Leeds when the Premier League resumes on Saturday.
Sweden run puts Gyökeres in focus
- Sweden began the Nations League window with home victories over Romania and Poland in Stockholm.
- They then drew 1-1 away to Bosnia and Herzegovina, a result that moved them to the top of Group B4.
- Gyökeres scored again in Bucharest as Sweden beat Romania 1-0, extending his Nations League scoring sequence to seven games.
Gyökeres said Sweden’s return of three wins and one draw represented a strong opening to their Nations League campaign, adding that his own scoring form had left him feeling good.
He accepted that Romania enjoyed too much possession at times and said Sweden had created problems for themselves, but stressed that the win and clean sheet made for a satisfying finish to the break.
Arsenal selection boost after Havertz setback
Gyökeres joined Arsenal from Sporting Lisbon for £64 million ($85m) last summer, but Mikel Arteta has so far used him only twice from the bench in the Premier League.
That could change quickly. Havertz suffered a hamstring issue early in the international period and returned to Arsenal for further tests, leaving Arteta with a possible vacancy at centre-forward for Leeds.
Arsenal went into the break after their first defeat of the new season, a 3-0 loss at Brighton despite their status as Premier League champions.
Calafiori scores first Italy goal
Riccardo Calafiori also enjoyed a productive break, scoring his first senior Italy goal in a 3-1 win against Turkey in Bologna.
The versatile defender had already made an immediate impact for Arsenal this term, scoring after 24 seconds in the Community Shield victory over Manchester City.
Calafiori said he had been close to scoring five or six times last season but was unfortunate, and believes the new campaign has started positively. He insisted his priority is the overall help he gives the side rather than personal statistics.
He added that physical fitness is central to his game because, when fully fit, he feels capable of helping the team in numerous ways.
Arteta has encouraged Calafiori to follow his attacking instincts and break into space when the opportunity is there. The Italy international said those forward runs come naturally, although they must be timed intelligently and made with the right tactical awareness.
Further injury concerns
- Ezri Konsa left the England camp early on Monday because of a quad problem.
- Max Dowman withdrew from the England under-19 squad.
- Greece winger Christos Tzolis is another concern after a hamstring issue.
- Declan Rice pulled out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad before the three-week camp began, but is expected to be available for the Leeds match.
